The squire, who had inadvertently or purposely left the young people alone, anxiously asked if the patient was worse?
“No, I am altogether better, squire,” said the aeronaut, and glancing at the letter which the captain handed him, he gave it back, asking him to read it out to them.
Warner’s reason for going to Wedwell Park:—
“After you ascended, sir, to-day, I tried to find Falcon and Croft at Sydenham with the aid of the London detective, Hawksworth, but the roundabout way he went to work in search of a clue so upset me that I left him and proceeded in my own humble way to act alone.
“Just as I was going to my lodgings, near the Lower Sydenham Station, I met a railway clerk I know coming that way, and I asked him if he had seen anything of two men, one tall and dark, the other short and sly looking, as they were wanted.
“‘If you step into the booking department,’ he said, ‘you will find them consulting the time tables about a Sussex train; they are going on by the next train to Croydon, where they will change for Lewes. Shall I go in and get you a ticket, and arrange that you slip into the guard’s van, Mr Warner?’
“‘Please do, and send on word to our inspector to say where I am going, as it is on important business,’ I said, at the same time explaining a little to him about the balloon ascent and the men’s recent conduct.
“‘But,’ said he, ‘do you know, Mr Warner, where the balloon came down?’
“‘No I don’t,’ I replied.
“‘It dropped in Wedwell Park, not so very far from Lewes, strange to say? We have had a message up to that effect, and that is what these men are going there about in all probability,’ said he.